It's the ‘University of Wokingham'

A ‘UNIVERSITY' of secondary schools could be set up if links between schools in Wokingham

district get closer.

The project will see Wokingham's secondary schools become like individual colleges that are part of a ‘university' covering the district.

Schools would share expertise and resources. So for example, if there were not enough pupils in one school to make running a particular course feasible, they could join students from another and study together.

Dudley Targett, acting deputy head of education at Wokingham District Council, said: "For example, students at Oxford would first say they go to Oxford University and then they would say which college they go to.

"That is the concept behind Wokingham's secondary education. Instead of saying ‘I am the head of this secondary school' people could say ‘I am a Wokingham headteacher'.

"We want schools to work more closely together and there are all sorts of ways in which that can happen. That process is just starting off and hopefully there will be a difference in thinking."

Waingel's Copse head Richard Green is going to work at the council for two days a week on the project.

A similar project is underway in primary schools, where ‘clusters' of schools which work together are being set up. Nine Mile Ride primary school

headteacher Chris Jones will be working on the project as a principal primary advisor to the council.

He will help to develop the clusters, based on six areas - one covering the north of the district, two in the south and the other three centring on Wokingham, Woodley and Earley.

Each primary school will work with the rest of the schools in its group. This will become a ‘knowledge centre' focusing on excelling in a different subject and then sharing the knowledge with other schools in the district.

The council also wants to improve school buildings and Emmbrook head John Goulborn will be working with the council for five days a week to help make that happen.

The senior deputy head at Emmbrook will act as headteacher while Mr Goulborn works at the council.

Mr Targett said: "We have a lot of expertise in our schools so why not use it instead of bringing in outside consultants? Wokingham has a good

reputation for education, and because we are good we have the freedom to find new ways of working.

"Those places that are not performing as well are busy trying to catch up rather than going forward."

Corporate head of education David Hawthorne said: "We have a very strong partnership with headteachers and individual schools have achieved so much. Our schools are successful and there is so much creativity, good practice and innovation going on both in them and in our education service."